Nuclear Monitor #922
Susan O’Donnell
New research report and video highlight opposition by Indigenous nations to nuclear projects.
The report is based on analysis of 30 public statements about nuclear energy and radioactive waste by Indigenous nations and communities in New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. The study also gathered more than 125 documents submitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) by Indigenous organizations in these three provinces.
Overall, these documents highlight that Indigenous nations do not support more nuclear development or the transport and storage of nuclear waste on Indigenous homelands. A common theme is the CNSC is not listening to Indigenous voices, and their right to be meaningfully consulted on nuclear projects has not been met.
Indigenous communities understand that producing and storing nuclear waste on their territories without their free, prior and informed consent is a violation of their Indigenous rights. They seek justice for their communities now and for the generations to come.
The report and video are co-published by the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc., an Indigenous organization representing the rights and interests of the Peskotomuhkati Nation in Canada, and the CEDAR project at St. Thomas University.
Point Lepreau on the Bay of Fundy, the location of New Brunswick’s current nuclear reactor and planned future nuclear experiments, is within the homeland of the Peskotomuhkati whose duty is to protect their lands, waters, and environment for all present and future generations.
The CEDAR project’s Indigenous partners – Chief Hugh Akagi of the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik and Chief Ron Tremblay of the Wolastoq Grand Council – each wrote a foreword to the report.
Both Indigenous leaders are opposed to the production of radioactive waste at the Point Lepreau nuclear site on the Bay of Fundy and have not consented to plans by NB Power to develop at least two experimental nuclear reactors at the site that, if built, would produce more and different forms of radioactive waste.
Susan O’Donnell for the teams at the Passamaquoddy Recognition Group Inc. (PRGI) and the CEDAR project at St. Thomas University.
Susan is also a Board member of Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.
Website: https://cedar-project.org/Indigenous/
